Key events
Profile: Michael van Gerwen
Nickname: Mighty Mike/MvG
World ranking: No 3
Home town: Vlijmen, Netherlands
Major titles: 48 and counting
PDC worlds best: Winner 2014, 2017 and 2019
Walk-on music: Seven Nation Army
A decade ago, Van Gerwen was in Luke Littler’s position; the heir apparent to Phil Taylor’s throne who seemed capable of lifting the world title year after year. The fact he has only won three Ally Pally crowns feels almost disappointing; Van Gerwen has occasionally misplaced his ruthless streak here, losing as many finals as he has won.
That said, even Littler would struggle to keep up with the flying Dutchman at his absolute best. Also, Van Gerwen is still only 35, and has time to reach a world title haul more fitting his quality, much like Ronnie O’Sullivan has done in snooker. The way MvG held off the electric form of Callan Rydz in the last eight bodes well for his chances.
Road to semi-finals: R2 beat James Hurrell 3-0, R3 bt Brendan Dolan 4-2, R4 bt Jeffrey de Graaf 4-2, QF bt Callan Rydz 5-3.
Profile: Chris Dobey
Nickname: Hollywood
World ranking: No 15
Home town: Bedlington
Major titles: Masters 2023
PDC worlds best: Semis 2025
Walk-on music: Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble
Much like in men’s tennis, Dobey is part of a ‘Next Gen’ group whose gradual rise through the darting world has been overshadowed by Littler’s rapid ascent. The 34-year-old is due to crack the world’s top 10 next year, reward for reaching his first semi-finals here, having lost painfully in the quarter-finals in 2023 and 2024.
Dobey, who earned the nickname “Hollywood” for having the temerity to wear a baseball cap while playing as an amateur, won his first PDC title, the Masters, in 2023, but struggled in his first Premier League campaign in the same year. Like his football team, Newcastle, Dobey remains determined to break into the elite one day.
Road to semi-finals: R2 beat Alexander Merkx 3-1, R3 bt Josh Rock 4-2, R4 bt Kevin Doets 4-3, QF bt Gerwyn Price 5-3.
Will we see a nine-darter tonight? There have been two already at this year’s tournament, but both players to deliver one – Christian Kist and Damon Heta – went on to lose the match.
Preamble
Welcome to the Alexandra Palace, London. In the 92 matches played across 14 days so far, we’ve seen shock exits, unexpected comebacks, nine-darters and all-time classics. Ninety-six players have stood on the Ally Pally oche; only four remain in contention. The four previous world champions – Luke Humphries, Michael Smith, Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price – have all fallen, leaving an intriguing and finely-balanced final four.
The only previous winner still in the field, Michael van Gerwen, has shown flashes of his unstoppable best as he seeks a fourth world title. He starts as favourite against Chris Dobey, who is into his first world semi-final after defeating Price – but the No 15 seed often brings his best darts to the Palace, and should not be underestimated.
When the draw was made, most observers expected a Luke v Luke semi-final, in a repeat of last year’s epic finale. Instead, Humphries was shocked by a resurgent Wright, who then failed to reproduce the same magic against Stephen Bunting. It’s the Bullet who faces the unenviable task of stopping Luke Littler tonight, but after a decade of disappointment at the PDC worlds, Bunting has rarely looked in better form.
It’s a perfect semi-final line up: the champion-elect against the sharpened old stager, and the likeable, capable underdog against a wounded former king of the Palace. Destiny hints at a Littler v Van Gerwen final and a passing of the torch, but things are rarely so predictable when the lights go down and arrows start flying.
7.40pm GMT: [15] Chris Dobey v Michael van Gerwen [3]
9.30pm GMT: [8] Stephen Bunting v Luke Littler [4]
